The Defender of Time

Thirteen

"Good mo-orning!"

Alessia was far too chipper for five-thirty in the morning, but she was still running on the previous day's adrenaline. After a weak attempt to go to sleep, she'd spent the night up telling August about how she'd basically saved the entire world, and he'd spent the night up telling her that all she did was hit an alien on the head with an IV pole.

Alessia made her way down the hallway, with Oliver nipping at her heels and running to follow her. Clara groaned something that sounded a lot like "Go to sleep, kid" as the duo passed her bedroom. Alessia, of course, did not.

Upon making it to the console room, she found the figure of the Doctor hunched over below the glass floor, fiddling with something or another while muttering wildly. "Dad!" Alessia squeaked. He jumped, dropping a handful of bolts on the floor. "Good morning."

"A more gentle greeting next time, please," the Doctor muttered. "And good morning."

Alessia was unaffected. "August wants to go see the rhinos again."

"Judoon," corrected the Doctor.

"Yeah! The rhinos!" Alessia fell to the ground, scooping Oliver up and placing him in her lap. "Can we go see different rhinos? Ones that won't try to kill anybody?"

The Doctor turned to look at Alessia and smiled warmly. "No adventure today, Lessie," he said. "I need to make sure the Judoon didn't do anything long-lasting."

"Like the noisy glasses?"

He nodded. "Yes, like the noisy glasses. I'm still not sure what their purpose was."

Alessia was silent in thought for a moment. "I feel fine," she finally shrugged. "So it's okay if we can go somewhere. You don't have to worry about me."

He raised his eyebrows. "In the last two days, my dear, you've passed out three separate times. I'm going to worry about you."

"Maybe it's because I ate nothing but celery."

"Have you had anything to drink?"

Alessia shrugged again. "No."

The Doctor sighed. "Aren't eight year olds supposed to know how to take care of themselves?"

"I turn nine in eleven days," Alessia pouted. "And maybe I just wasn't thirsty."

"After two days?" The Doctor stood up from his spot, brushing off his pants and straightening his coat. "Come on. Let's get you fed."

"Can you cook?" Alessia asked, following him as he began to walk toward the kitchen. "Amy said you're not very good."

"Of course she did," he muttered. "Yes, I can cook. Otherwise I wouldn't have signed up for fatherhood."

"What can you cook?" The duo arrived at the kitchen door and Alessia slid into the rightmost kitchen chair. The Doctor slid her a glass of water, which she drank greedily. "Can you make pancakes?"

The Doctor thought for a moment. "Maybe. How does toast sound?"

"Boring."

"Cereal? Do you like cereal?"

Alessia shrugged. "I've never had it. But I want pancakes, please."

"Okay. Well. How about if TARDIS makes you some pancakes?"

Alessia stuck her tongue out in disgust. "She makes the yucky healthy ones. Without the syrup."

The Doctor wrinkled his nose. "How are you supposed to enjoy them without the syrup?" He asked. He turned to look at the ceiling, yelling, "Get on that!"